Kia Pulls the Wraps Off Of Its Next-Generation Sportage

Compact Sportage SUV Touted as Having Sedan-Like Ride and Handling

Kia Motors released the first official photos and technical specifications for its upcoming Sportage compact sport utility

The first official photos of Kia's new updated Sportage have been released. (Photo: Kia Canada)

vehicle yesterday, and by early account it looks on track to become another top seller for the burgeoning Korean automaker.

The original Sportage was an instrumental model for Kia when introduced in 1993, as the brand was new to North America at that time and needed a competitive SUV to initially gain market share. Along with zany advertising, that featured a wacky character taking a modest family for a joy ride in a then new Sportage, the little SUV became an immediate hit. Altogether, the Sportage was a global best-seller, racking up 568,720 sales outside of Korea.

With time, the Sportage became uncompetitive in North America and was dropped from Kia's lineup soon after the much larger

The original Sportage (shown here) was an instrumental model for Kia, racking up 568,720 sales outside of Korea. (Photo: Kia Canada)

Sorento was introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model. Now the Hyundai-owned division is bolstering its SUV ranks with a second model that is representative of the original in name only. Unlike the 1993 version, the 2005 Sportage will lose its body-on-frame design for a car-like monocoque architecture, which will promote a more civilized ride and improved handling.

"Adding to our quickly expanding full product line-up, the all-new Sportage will reinforce our SUV offering together with the tremendously popular Sorento, thereby boosting Kia's brand reputation in the SUV category," commented Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors.